Systems for providing electromagnetic radiation input to free electron lasers in flight, and associated methods

Abstract

Systems for transmitting power to and from flight vehicles, and associated devices and methods are described herein. A representative flight power-transmission system includes a surface-based transmitter on or adjacent to the surface of the Earth, a flight platform remote from the surface-based transmitter, and a free electron laser (FEL) carried by the flight platform. The transmitter is configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation to the FEL, and the FEL is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the FEL and generate a laser beam based at least in part on the received electromagnetic radiation. The flight platform can be an aerostat positioned at high altitude within the stratosphere. The FEL can direct the laser beam for one or more end uses, such as (i) supplying power to a downrange electric aircraft, (ii) supplying power to a surface-based receiver, (iii) providing directed-energy for destroying or disabling a target, and/or (iv) providing directed-energy for clearing orbital debris.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of supplying electromagnetic radiation input to flight free electron laser (FEL), the method comprising:
 supplying the electromagnetic radiation input to the flight FEL from a transmitter remote from the flight FEL.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transmitter is positioned on the surface of the Earth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein supplying the electromagnetic radiation input includes transmitting the electromagnetic radiation at a radio frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein supplying the electromagnetic radiation input includes supplying the electromagnetic radiation input as a non-gaussian beam. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein supplying the electromagnetic radiation input includes supplying the electromagnetic radiation input as a Whisper Beam transmission. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein supplying the electromagnetic radiation input includes supplying the electromagnetic radiation input at a radio frequency. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein supplying the electromagnetic radiation input includes supplying the electromagnetic radiation input at a frequency that is substantially transparent to the troposphere. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein supplying the electromagnetic radiation input to the flight FEL includes supplying the electromagnetic radiation input to the flight FEL while the flight FEL is positioned in or above the stratosphere. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the FEL is configured to (a) receive the electromagnetic radiation input and (b) generate a laser beam having a wavelength of between about 3-20 μm based at least partially on the electromagnetic radiation input. 
     
     
         10 . A power transmission system, comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation;   a flight platform positioned remote from the transmitter; and   a free electron laser (FEL) carried by the flight platform, wherein the FEL is configured to (a) receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the FEL and (b) generate a laser beam based at least in part on the received electromagnetic radiation.   
     
     
         11 . The power transmission system of  claim 10  wherein the transmitter is positioned on the surface of the Earth, and wherein the flight platform is configured to fly at an altitude of 60,000 feet or more relative to the surface of the Earth. 
     
     
         12 . The power transmission system of  claim 10  wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of between about 3-20 μm. 
     
     
         13 . The power transmission system of  claim 10 , further comprising a downrange platform, wherein the FEL is configured to direct the laser beam toward the downrange platform. 
     
     
         14 . The power transmission system of  claim 10  wherein the flight platform is an aerostat. 
     
     
         15 . The power transmission system of  claim 10  wherein the FEL comprises (a) a main linear accelerator configured to generate the laser beam and (b) an energy recovery linear accelerator coupled to the main linear accelerator. 
     
     
         16 . A method of transferring power, the method comprising:
 transmitting electromagnetic radiation from a transmitter;   flying a flight platform at an altitude relative to the transmitter;   receiving, at a free electron laser (FEL) carried by the flight platform, at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation; and   generating, via the FEL, a laser beam based at least in part on the electromagnetic radiation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein generating the laser beam comprises:
 inputting a first portion of the electromagnetic radiation directly into the FEL while the flight platform is in flight at an altitude relative to the transmitter; 
 converting a second portion of the electromagnetic radiation to electricity onboard the flight platform; 
 using the electricity to generate an electron beam; 
 inputting the electron beam into the FEL; and 
 outputting the laser beam based on the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation and the electron beam. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method further comprises:
 directing the laser beam away from the flight platform to a flight vehicle; 
 receiving the laser beam at the flight vehicle; 
 converting at least a portion of the laser beam to electricity; and 
 using the electricity in the flight vehicle. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method further comprises:
 directing the laser beam away from the flight platform to a receiver on or adjacent to a surface of the Earth; 
 receiving the laser beam at the receiver; and 
 converting at least a portion of the laser beam to electricity. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method further comprises directing the laser beam to a target to at least partially destroy, damage, and/or disable the target.